Phonogram-cylinder



(No Model.)

W. B; TATTERSHALL.

PHONOGRAM CYLINDER. I 1 No. 408,998. Patented Aug. 13, 188-9 W M /5. 97mm, @m zm m \a/LW fliorizgy N4 PETERS, Phnwutho w hur, Wahinglon. DC.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILMER B. TATTERSI'IALL, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

'PHONOGRAM-CYLINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,998, dated August 13, 1889.

Application filed April26, 1889. Serial No. 308,725. (No model.)

To all whom it 11mg concern:

Be it known that'I, WILMER B. TATTER- SHALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Phonographic Recording-Cylinders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to recording-cylinders for phonographs or graphophones.

The object is to produce a phonographic recordingeylinder which shall be of such construction' that a series of them may be placed one within the other and in sucha manner that should a particular one be needed it can be readily found, while at the same time the recording-surface will be preserved from injury; furthermore, to produce a phonographic cylinder which shall be of the simplest construction, of the highest efficiency in use, and which may be manufactured at but a slight expense.

\Vith these objects in view the invention consists, broadly, in a hollow cylindrical or truncated cone-shaped body provided with a suitable recording-surface and having a field at one or both ends left free from the. substance forming the recording-surface, whereby when said cylinders are slipped one within the other the name upon the field may be clearly visible; furthermore, in combination with a hollow cylinder or truncated coneshaped body provided with a suitable recording-surface and having a field free from the substance forming the recordingsurface at one or both ends, of a circumferential rib or ribs extending beyond the plane of the cone and designed to prevent the recording-surface from being abraded or scratched when the cylinders are slipped one within the other; and, finally, the invention consists in the various details of construction, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, illustrated in the drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference-letters indicate corresponding parts, I have illustrated one form of device with modifications embodying the essential features of my invention, although the same may be carried into effect in other ways without in the least departing from the spirit thereof;and in these drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved phonographic cylinder; Fig. 2,-a similar view showing the circumferential ribs, and Fig. 3 a perspective View of a cylinder, showing my improved index-field thereon.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the cylinder, which maybe made of any suitable material, but preferably, in this instance, of paper suitably compressed by hydraulic or other pressure to form a truncated coneshaped body, as shown.

B designates the recordingsurface, which may be of any suitable substance, but preferably, in this instance, of paraffine or an analogous substance, the said recording-surface covering the entire external portion of the cylinder with the exception of that portion indicated by the letter O, which portion is left free from the substance forming the recording-surface for the purpose of leaving an index-field upon which the name of the person to whom the communication recorded upon the cylinder is sent, the date thereof, and any other data may be entered.

At one or both ends of the cone, and preferably within about one-half inch, are formed outward-projecting circumferential ribs D, which ribs are formed when the cone is be ing compressed into shape under pressure; but if desired they may be formed by securing strips of suitable material thereon by glue or other suitable adhesive substance. The object of the circumferential ribs is to prevent the recording-field B from injury when a series of these truncated cones are slipped one within the other for the purpose of filing them away; but it is obvious that, if desired, these ribs may be dispensed with, as shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 3 Ihave shown an ordinary cylinder E, which is by preference formed in the same manner as that described in the first part of this specification, and is provided at one or both ends with a blank field E, which may be used for the same purpose as that used upon the cone.

As phonographic cylinders are now constructed it is impossible to ascertain with readiness and ease what is contained thereon without firstplacin the same upon the phonegraph and reproducing therefrom at least the first few words recorded. This requires both time and labor, and is also productive of the rapid destruction of the cylinder, inasmuch as after a letter has been reproduced several times the cylinder becomes useless.

It will be readily seen that by constructing the cylinder with. the plain field left at the end very little time will be consumed in ascertaining what is registered on the cones, inasmuch as by looking at the said field the name of the person to whom the communication. is addressed is readily seen. Another great advantage in making the recording-cylinder in the form of a truncated cone is that a large number of them may be filed away and occupy but a small amount of space, whereas were they made in the form of a cylinder, as shown in Fig. 3, a large amount of space would be necessary in filing a given number.

It will thus be seen that although this form of graphophonic cylinder is exceedingly simple of construction it will be found of highest eliiciency and durability in use and may be constructed at a minimum cost.

llaving thus fully described my im'ention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A phonographic cylinder having a portion of its exterior coated with a suitable recording-surface and an index-field at or near one end thereof free from the recording-surface, substantially as described.

2. A phonographic cylinder havin g a re cordingsurl'ace, an index-field at the end thereof, and a circumferential rib or ribs, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

The herein-described phonographic cylinder, constructed in the form of a truncated cone and having an index-field at or near the end thereof substantially as described.

4. The herein-described phonographic cylinder, constructed in the form of a truncated cone and having an index-field at one or both ends and circumferential ribs, substantially as and forthe purpose described.

5. As a new article of manufacture, the herein-described phol'lographic cylinder, constructed of paper or other suitable substance, formed into a hollow truncated cone, and having a portion of its exterior coated with a suitable recording-surface, leaving an index-field at one or both ends, and having circumferential ribs at or near its ends, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si gnatn re in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

R. M. ELLIOTT, WARREN HULL. 

